Air-freshener dispenser

ABSTRACT

An air-freshener dispenser is comprised of a compartment for containing air-freshening materials and having a plurality of openings in its walls. The front wall of the compartment is formed by a pair of hinged doors joined together by a latch. Flexion of the sidewalls causes the doors to swing open so as to permit removal of the contents of the compartment.

United States Patent inventor Norman E. Wilson 2801 Locust St., University City. Mo. 63103 Appl. No. 808,964

Filed Mar. 20, 1969 Patented Jan. 5, 1971 AlR-FRESHENER DISPENSER 8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 229/30, 206/05: 239/57 Int. Cl 865d 5/20 Field of Search 229/30,

Vents, 8; 206/05: 239/57 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 619,757 2/1899 Johnstone et al. 229/8 1,715,583 6/l929 Warren 229/8 1,806,149 5/ l 931 Daugherty 206/0.5

Primary Examiner-David M. Bockenek Attorney-John D. Pope lll ABSTRACT: An air-freshener dispenser is comprised of a compartment for containing air-freshening materials and having a plurality of openings in its walls. The front wall of the compartment is formed by a pair of hinged doors joined together by a latch. Flexion of the sidewalls causes the doors to swing open so as to permit removal of the contents of the compartment.

PATENTEU JAN 5l97l 3552.632

INVENTOR NORMAN E. WILSON BY F a ATTONEY AIR-FRESI-IENER DISPENSER This invention relates to dispensers and more particularly to an air-freshener dispenser.

Many products are currently being marketed for deodorizing and freshening the air in public facilities and in the household. These air-freshening products are placed in dispensers which expose the product to the air so that it will liberate deodorizing material. An example of an ingredient commonly used for this purpose is paradichlorobenzene. One effective way of utilizing this ingredient to, freshen air is to encase it in a dispenser which exposes it to the atmosphere. This invention is directed to a dispenser for containing such an airfreshening material during its marketing and also during its use.

Among the several objects of the present invention may be noted the provision of an air-freshener dispenser wherein the air-freshening materials are exposed to the air but are encased within a compartment; the provision of an air-freshener dispenser wherein the air-freshening materials may be easily inserted and removed; the provision of an air-freshener dispenser wherein a pair of hinged doors are latched and may be opened by the application of pressure to the opposite lateral sides of the dispenser; the provision of an air-freshener dispenser which can be utilized as a marketing container on store shelves and which will also serve as a container when the air-freshening materials are used for their intended purpose; and the provision of an air-freshener dispenser which is attractive in appearance, economical to manufacture, and durable in use. Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the constructions hereinafter described, the scope of the invention being indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which one of various possible embodiments of the invention is illustrated;

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device for dispensing deodorant into the air;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the device in its folded position;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the effect of lateral inward pressure on the sides of the device; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the latching mechanism.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Numeral l0 designates a container for holding and dispensing air deodorant. Referring to FIG. 2, a backwall 12 is provided having two end walls 14, 16, at its opposite ends. Backwall 12 and end walls 14, 16, are rigid with respect to one another and form a C-shaped unitary member when viewed in cross section. Each of two lateral walls 18, 20, has one edge hinged to one of the lateral edges of backwall 12 and each of the lateral walls 18, 20, has the other of its edges hinged to a pair of doors 22, 24. End wall 14 has a five-sided shape including two forward edges 26, 28, which form an angle less than 180 with respect to one another. Bottom end wall 16 is identical in shape to top end wall 14 and includes two forward edges 30, 32, which are identical to forward edges 26, 28, of end wall 14. When lateral walls 18, 20, anddoors 22, 24, are in their folded position, they enclose a compartment 34. In this position a forward wall 36 is defined by doors 22, 24.

A latch mechanism 38 is adapted to secure doors 22, 24, in their folded position so that compartment 34 is completely enclosed. Latch mechanism 38 is comprised of a male member 40 secured to door 22 and a female member formed by a slot 42 in door 24. Male member 40 includes a bead 44 on its extreme tip which protrudes into and frictionally engages slot 42 so 'as to secure door 22 to door 24 (FIG. 3). A tab 45 protrudes from one end of male member 40 to facilitate removal of bead 44 from slot 42.

Lateral walls 18, 20, are made of a flexible material to permit their flexion inwardly when pressed manually. Backwall l2, lateral walls 18, 20, and doors 22, 24, are of unitary construction. The hinged connection between lateral walls 18. 20, and backwall 12 is provided by two V-shaped creases 46, 48. Likewise the hinged connections between lateral walls 18, 20, and doors 22, 24, are provided by two V-shaped creases 50, 52. V-shaped creases 46, 48, 50, 52, provide beveled edges for backwall 12, lateral walls 18, 20, and doors 22, 24. As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, these beveled edges abut flatly against one another when lateral walls 18, 20, and doors 22, 24, are in their folded or closed position. The fact that these beveled edges abut against one another in this position is important to the proper functioning of container 10 in that they assist in the releasing oflatch 38.

Lateral walls 18, 20, include a plurality of openings 54 therein which provide communication between the interior of compartment 34 and the exterior. Thus when an air-freshening material 56 is enclosed within compartment 34, air is admitted to compartment 34 and is purified by air-freshening material 56. v

Lateral walls 18, 20, are constructed of a flexible material so that when manual pressure is applied to them they llex inwardly as illustrated in FIG. 4. The block of air-freshening material 56 is small enough to leave space for this inward llex ion of lateral walls 13, 20. Because the beveled edges of doors 22, 24, and lateral walls 18, 20, abut against one another respectively, inward flexing of lateral walls 18, 20, causes doors 22, 24, to be urged upwardly, as viewed in FIG. 4, about their hinged axes with lateral walls 18, 20. Likewise inward flexing of lateral walls 18, 20, causes the joint between doors 22, 24, to rise, thereby decreasing the angle formed by the inner surfaces of doors 22, 24. Doors 22, 24, tend to pivot about their hinged connections with lateral walls 18, 20, and also tend to pivot about their latched connection between one another. As previously described, male member 40 of latch mechanism 38 is frictionally retained within slot 42. The pivotal action between doors 22, 24, when lateral walls I8, 20, are flexed inwardly causes male member 40 to pivot about bead 44 and consequently to be released from slot 42, thereby disengaging latch mechanism 38 and permitting doors 22, 24, to swing from their closed position to an open position wherein the interior of compartment 34 is exposed. lf male member 40 becomes lodged within slot 42 and cannot be removed by inward flexing of lateral walls 18, 20, then it may be removed by lifting upwardly on tab 45.

A spike 58 protrudes from the outer surface of door 24 to secure a decorative covering such as a flower 60 to the outer surface of container 10, thereby providing an attractive appearance for marketing purposes. Also a hanger member 62 having an aperture 64 extending therethrough is provided on one end of container 10 so that it can be hung or suspended from a nail or other support in the area to be deodorized.

The container described above may be utilized as a marketing package because of its attractive appearance. The deodorizing materials are stored within compartment 34 and are wrapped in a colorful wrapping material to preserve them for later use. After the customer has purchased the product and desires to use it he presses the lateral walls 18, 20, thereby releasing latch 38 and causing doors 22, 24, to swing outwardly. The deodorizing materials are then removed from compartment 34, are unwrapped, and are replaced in compartment 34. Doors 22,24, are swung from their open position to their closed position and male member 40 is pressed into slot 42, thereby securing latch 38. Container 10 can then be either placed on a support in or suspended by means of hunger member 62 from a wall in the room to be freshened. Air passes freely through openings 54 in lateral walls 18, 20, and is freshened by the materials within container 10. Likewise the freshening aroma of the material within container 10 is free to pass outwardly through openings 54 to permeate the room.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained. I

lclaim: J

1. An air-freshener dispenser comprising a compartment for air-freshening materials; a pair of hinged doors forming a front wall of said compartment; said hinged doors being movable from a closed position wherein they enclose said compartment to an open position wherein they open said compartment to permit removal of said air-freshening materials; each of said hinged doors being hinged to a lateral wall of said compartment; V-shaped creases extending along the junctures between said hinged doors and said lateral walls; each of said creases forming a pair of beveled surfaces which abut against one another when said doors are in their closed position; said lateral walls being flexible inwardly with respect to said compartment whereupon inward flexing of said lateral walls causes said hinged doors to be urged toward their open position; and openings in at least one wall of said compartment for permitting circulation of air between the interior and exterior of said compartment.

2. The air-freshener dispenser of claim 1. wherein the inner surfaces, of said hinged doors meet at an angle less than 180 when said hinged doors are in their closed position so that said front wall formed by said hinged doors protrudes outwardly from said compartments interior.

3. The air-freshener dispenser of claim 1, wherein a latch holds said hinged doors in their closed position, said latch being responsive to the inward flexion of said lateral walls to release said hinged doors and to permit them to move to their open position.

4. The air-freshener dispenser of claim 3, wherein said latch is comprised of a male member on one of said hinged doors and a female member on the other of said hinged doors, said male member being adapted to fit matingly inside said female member for securing said hinged doors together.

5. The air-freshener dispenser of claim 4. wherein said male member is adapted to overlap over said other hinged door and said female member includes a slot in said other hinged door adapted to receive a portion of said male member.

6. The air-freshener dispenser of claim I, wherein a sccuring means is connected to said compartment for hanging said compartment on a wall and a prong protrudes from one of said hinged doors for holding a decorative covering over said doors when they are in their closed position.

7. An air-freshener dispenser comprising a compartment for air-freshening materials; said compartment being formed by a backwall. a top wall, a bottom wall, two lateral walls, and a front wall; said lateral walls each being integral with one lateral edge of said backwall and being adapted to fold along the juncture therebetween; said top and bottom walls extending from and being integral with the top and bottom edges of said backwall; said front wall being formed by two hinged doors each of which is integral with one edge of one of said lateral walls and is adapted to fold along the juncture therebetween; and openings in at least one of said walls for permitting circulation of air between the interior and exterior of said compartment.

8. An air-freshener dispenser according to claim 7, wherein said backwall, said top wall, and said bottom wall are rigid with respect to one another so that they are substantially free from folding movement therebetween. 

1. An air-freshener dispenser comprising a compartment for airfreshening materials; a pair of hinged doors forming a front wall of said compartment; said hinged doors being movable from a closed position wherein they enclose said compartment to an open position wherein they open said compartment to permit removal of said air-freshening materials; each of said hinged doors being hinged to a lateral wall of said compartment; V-shaped creases extending along the junctures between said hinged doors and said lateral walls; each of said creases forming a pair of beveled surfaces which abut against one another when said doors are in their closed position; said lateral walls being flexible inwardly with respect to said compartment whereupon inward flexing of said lateral walls causes said hinged doors to be urged toward their open position; and openings in at least one wall of said compartment for permitting circulation of air between the interior and exterior of said compartment.
 2. The air-freshener dispenser of claim
 1. wherein the inner surfaces, of said hinged doors meet at an angle less than 180* when said hinged doors are in their closed position so that said front wall formed by said hinged doors protrudes outwardly from said compartment''s interior.
 3. The air-freshener dispenser of claim 1, wherein a latch holds said hinged doors in their closed position, said latch being responsive to the inward flexion of said lateral walls to release said hinged doors and to permit them to move to their open position.
 4. The air-freshener dispenser of claim 3, wherein said latch is comprised of a male member on one of said hinged doors and a female member on the other of said hinged doors, said male member being adapted to fit matingly inside said female member for securing said hinged doors together.
 5. The air-freshener dispenser of claim
 4. wherein said male member is adapted to overlap over said other hinged door and said female member includes a slot in said other hinged door adapted to receive a portion of said male member.
 6. The air-freshener dispenser of claim 1, wherein a securing means is connected to said compartment for hanging said compartment on a wall and a prong protrudes from one of said hinged doors for holding a decorative covering over said doors when they are in their closed position.
 7. An air-freshener dispenser comprising a compartment for air-freshening materials; said compartment being formed by a backwall, a top wall, a bottom wall, two lateral walls, and a front wall; said lateral walls each being integral with one lateral edge of said backwall and being adapted to fold along the juncture therebetween; said top and bottom walls extending from and being integral with the top and bottom edges of said backwall; said front wall being formed by two hinged doors each of which Is integral with one edge of one of said lateral walls and is adapted to fold along the juncture therebetween; and openings in at least one of said walls for permitting circulation of air between the interior and exterior of said compartment.
 8. An air-freshener dispenser according to claim 7, wherein said backwall, said top wall, and said bottom wall are rigid with respect to one another so that they are substantially free from folding movement therebetween. 